Archive

Springtime in Turkey (2013)

It’s 2013 and time for another numismatic diary – this trip takes us to the west coast of Turkey. Here you can find all parts of this diary.

Part 1This first instalment, however, is all about the journey there and a visit to the awe-inspiring commercial city of Bolzano. Read Part 1 here.

Part 2Part 2 of our trip sees us crossing Greece, ferrying over to Asia, and coming up empty handed in our search for Lampsacus and Cyzicus. Read Part 2 here.

Part 3There are still paradises left on this earth – and the small port of Assos in Troas is one of them. Join us on our excursions through Troas, as we explore Troy, but first, as we marvel at the extremely finely preserved Assos. Read Part 3 here.

Part 4Everyone knows Troy! But have you ever been to Alexandria Troas, the most important port in northwest Asian Minor? Join us in this chapter as we venture into this forgotten metropolis and to the equally little-known temple of Apollo Smintheus. Read Part 4 here.

Part 5There’s an old Sicilian proverb that says, ‘Only donkeys and tourists go out in the midday sun.’ But for us, lunchtime afforded us the glorious opportunity to take in Pergamum all on our own. Read Part 5 here.

Part 6There’s not much left today to see of ancient Phocaea, but ancient ruins aren’t necessary to bring the residents of Izmir out of the city and to the seaside. In addition to visiting Phocaea, we also visit the ancient Sardis in this chapter, birthplace of coinage. Read Part 6 here.

Part 7Given the number of tourists about the place, one could be forgiven for thinking that pretty much everyone in the world has already walked along the Curetes Street of Ephesus. And we were taking in Ephesus on a quiet day too, relatively speaking … Read Part 7 here.

Part 8There’s not much left to see of Miletus today. The former harbour is silted up, and the city almost entirely vanished. This may have something to do with the fact that Miletus had the misfortune of constantly being on the wrong side of things, just like the priests of the oracle of Didyma. Read Part 8 here.

Part 9Do you know much about Priene? It's famous for its Hippodamian-plan city layout. What's more, Priene is also very romantic, especially if you get there late afternoon when all the tour buses are long gone. Read Part 9 here.

Part 10Would you know what to do if your car broke down in the middle of nowhere? Well I do, and today I'll fill you in. I'll also tell you about the very interesting excavation of Aphrodisias, which we visited before everything took a turn for the worse... Read Part 10 here.

Part 11What do you do when your car breaks down and you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere? That’s right – you take your time visiting the local ruins. In this chapter, we pay a leisurely visit to the ancient city of Hieropolis, modern-day Pamukkale. Read Part 11 here.

Part 12Nothing beats a little dose of the unexpected while on holiday – it’s the only way you can really get to know a country and its people. After all, how else would we have gained insight into Turkey’s bureaucracy had we not had that awful car trouble? It also meant we had the chance to make one last... Read Part 12 here.